NCI Research Specialist (Core-based Scientist) Award (R50 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 23 243

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 243

The NCI Research Specialist (Core-based Scientist) Award (R50; Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a National Cancer Institute funding opportunity (PAR-23-243) that supports highly skilled, laboratory-based scientists who want long-term, stable research careers while working within an established, NCI-funded cancer research program rather than leading an independent lab. The central idea is to strengthen the biomedical research workforce by keeping exceptional, research-focused specialists in roles that are essential to productivity, continuity, and technical depth in cancer research teams. This mechanism is intentionally geared toward non-tenure track scientists who contribute at a high level to ongoing basic, translational, clinical, or population science cancer research activities, but whose career goals are not centered on becoming independent principal investigators.

A key feature of this R50 is its emphasis on the value of embedded expertise. Many cancer research programs rely on seasoned staff scientists and core-based researchers who develop, optimize, and run sophisticated experimental systems; maintain critical platforms and workflows; ensure rigor and reproducibility; train and mentor other lab members; and drive technically demanding projects forward over multiple grant cycles. The R50 is meant to recognize and sustain that kind of contribution by providing a grant-supported pathway that aligns with a specialist career trajectory. Competitive applicants are expected to be outstanding scientists with a strong track record and clear evidence that their continued work within the host NCI-funded program will add substantial value.

The scope is broad in terms of scientific topics as long as the work falls under NCI-funded cancer research areas and is laboratory-based. While the host program context can include basic, translational, clinical, or population science cancer research, the FOA explicitly specifies that this particular R50 is for laboratory-based scientists and that clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement. In practice, that means the proposed activities should not include conducting NIH-defined clinical trials, and the work should be framed around lab-driven research, technology development, analytics, experimental models, or other non-trial research functions that advance cancer science.

Eligibility is also broad across U.S.-based organization types. Eligible applicant organizations include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education where applicable); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also highlights additional eligible categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible agencies of the federal government, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it draws a firm boundary around foreign involvement: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.

Administratively, this is an NIH discretionary grant mechanism under activity areas spanning education and health, and it is associated with multiple CFDA numbers tied to NCI programs (93.393 through 93.399). The opportunity was created on August 9, 2023, and the listed original closing date is November 3, 2025. The provided summary information does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, so applicants typically need to consult the full FOA for budget limits, project period details, allowable costs, and review criteria.

Overall, this R50 is best understood as a career-stabilizing award for high-impact, lab-based research specialists who are integral to an NCI-funded cancer research enterprise and who want to keep advancing science through a team-embedded role rather than transitioning to independent investigator status. It is designed to preserve deep technical and scientific expertise within cancer research programs, improve continuity and efficiency, and sustain the kind of long-term platform and project knowledge that is often hard to maintain through trainee- or soft-money-only positions.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NCI Research Specialist (Core-based Scientist) Award (R50 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.397, 93.398, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-08-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-11-03. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 23 243

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